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'Tis the season for Japan's handy hangover cures

Wed, Dec 30, 2015 - 12:14 PM

Convenience stores across the nation are stocking up on top-selling Ukon no Chikara, whose faithful believe that gulping down the 205 yen (S$2.40) turmeric-based recipe before a night out will make the next day a breeze.

PHOTO: SPH

[TOKYO] Makoto Yamauchi is taking comfort in a dizzying array of hangover cures, from clam elixirs to turmeric tonics, as Japan's new year party season gets into full swing.

The bottled drinks are a multi-million-dollar business in Japan and 'tis the season for recovery tonics as millions turn up to Shinnenkai gatherings to ring in 2016 with frosty mugs of beer.

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Convenience stores across the nation are stocking up on top-selling Ukon no Chikara, whose faithful believe that gulping down the 205 yen (S$2.40) turmeric-based recipe before a night out will make the next day a breeze.

Turmeric is thought to work as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory aid.

Others swear by clam- and watermelon-infused tonics or the peculiarly named Pocari Sweat - Japan's cloudy, citrus-like answer to Gatorade.

The reputedly dreadful tasting Solmac, a mixture that includes leaf extracts, turmeric, ginseng and liquorice, is also said to do the trick.

For the day after, Japanese soul food like miso soup or sour pickled plums are popular to help replace all those lost electrolytes.

The market for liver-rescuing drinks is estimated to be worth about US$178 million this year, although the numbers have been declining as Japan's fast-ageing population get on the wagon.

As part of a broader health drive, Daiwa Securities, one of the nation's biggest brokerages, is advising more than 13,000 domestic employees to take it easy on the sake and holiday food this year.

Still, Japan's ubiquitous Izakaya pubs are packed and slumped-over salarymen remain a common sight on subways - prompting animated public service warnings about the dangers of a boozy tumble onto the tracks.

Zeria Pharmaceutical is expecting to chalk up big sales of its liquid and pill-based Hepalyse this holiday season, after rolling out the liver tonic in convenience stores four years ago.

"People find it easier to go to a convenience store rather than the pharmacy and it has also helped brand awareness," a company spokesman said.

"Convenience store sales have really boosted our revenues. The best sales month is December." Various types of Hepalyse, sold in tiny, delicate bottles, sell over the counter for around 257 yen to 450 yen.

Demand for liquid replenishers is likely to stay strong despite slipping sales in recent years, said Shun Yokoyama, an analyst specialising in health drinks at marketing research firm Fuji Keizai.

"One key feature of the Japanese market is that there's a high demand for drinks to recover from situations that are bad for your health, such as a hangover," Yokoyama said.

"When you look at Japan from a global perspective, supplements don't sell so well. But consumers want something to recover their health by replenishing their nutrition through drinks," he added.